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N. PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHIE WASHINGTON D C rUNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY T. SMITH, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

'.BEDSTEAD-FASTENING.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 29,628, dated August 14, 1860.

.To all lwhom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HENRY T. SMITH, of the city and county of Vashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fastenings for Bed- Rails, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specication, in which- Figure l represents a bedstead rail and post, with my improved fastening attached. Fig. 2 represents a section of the same on the line x of Fig. l. Fig. 3 represents a plan of the under side of the fastening. Fig. 4 represents a modication in the construction of the fastening.

My improvements in bedrail fastenings, are more especially adapted to that description of bedstead with a deep and narrow rail, the thickness of which is not usually sufficient to admit of the screw bolt being used, or end hooks, without attaching additional pieces to the end of the rail in order to increase its thickness and give support to the fastening.

In the accompanying dra-wing is represented my improved fastening for connecting the bed rail with the post. 'lhis fastening consists of a bolt (c) and a face plate (a). The bolt is provided with a screw shank (lo) by which it is attached to the post; and through the outer end of the bolt is a slot into which a wedge or key enters to conine it to the face plate and rail. The face plate (a) consists of a narrow ring casting with a flanch (cl) projecting from its inner face, and also projecting lugs (g) on one side, between which the bolt enters.

A revolving curved hook or key (o) is arranged tol'it the interior of the projecting flanch, and the ring (a) of the face plate extends over this hook and forms a guide or way to prevent it from dropping out when this plate is attached to the rail. Both ends of this curved hook are beveled, so that either may enter the recess in the bolt, and fasten it to the plate and rail.

In attaching the plate to the rail, a circular recess is made on the inner face of the I rail near its end, of suiiicient depth to receive the plate, with its outer face flush with the face of the rail. The plate is confined to the rail by means of screws which pass through lugs or -ears (f) projecting from the outer edge of the plate. An open mortise is made in the end of the rail of the proper depth to receive the two lugs, between which the bolt enters; and this inortise extends back toward the center of the face plate a sufficient distance to allow the bolt to enter so as to admit the key entering the slot in the bolt a sufficient distance to bear against the ianch (CZ) on both sides of the lugs (g). Thus it will be seen that the projecting fianch around the edge of the face plate, guides the curved hook and forms a straining plate to support the hook on either side of the bolt. The projection of the ring of the face plate within in the iianch forms a guide to retain the hook in position and allow it to revolve freely and prevent it from dropping out when the face plate is attached to the rail.

If thought best a thin metal disk of the same size as the interior, or exterior of the flanch, with a square hole cut for the bolt, may be inserted in the bottom of the mortise, in order to protect the woodwork from being worn by the revolving hook.

The face plate may be arranged if thought best, to cover, and form a boxing around the sides of the bolt. In some cases the face plate may be constructed as represented in Fig. 3, in which the plate covers not only the entire surface of the circular mortise, made in the rail to receive it, but also the sides, bottom, and end of the mortise made for the bolt; in this case the circular hook is provided with a projecting arm, through which a pivot enters and attaches it to the face plate. The bolt instead of being slotted in the center, may be grooved on one or both sides, for the wedge or key. The bolt instead of being confined to the post by a screw shank, may have a shank of any other well known form by which it can be conveniently attached to the post.

Having thus described my improvements in fastenings for bed rails What I claim also With a cup projecting over and forming therein as new and desire to secure by Leta guide and guard to the curved hook. 10 ters Patent7 is- A face plate constructed substantially as described With a projecting ange arranged to form a straining to the fastening key; and With a double pointed revolving hook, arranged to enter a bolt on either side; and

In testimony whereof I have subscribed my name.

HENRY T. SMITH. Witnesses:

F. SoUTi-IGATE SMITH,

M. V. B. RADCLIFF. 

